JOHOR BAHRU: On a sunny Saturday morning, a group of eager people including students descended on the shores of Stulang Laut in the heart of the city.

But they were not there for fun. Instead, their mission was to clean up the beach and celebrate World Environmental Health Day.

The group of people decided to unite to protect the oceans and preserve the coastline.

The event was hosted by the Rotaract Club of Johor Bahru and co-hosted by Club of ITE College General and Rotary Club of Johor Bahru.

Other clubs participating were Rotary Club of Kulai, Rotary Club of Centennial, Rotary Club of Puteri Lagoon, Rotary Club of JB Sentral, Rotary Club of Tebrau, Rotary Club of Straits View, Rotary Club of Pasir Gudang Mandarin and Rotary Club of Muar.

Other organizations present were officials from the Sultan Ismail Library, Solid Waste Management Environment and Johor Bahru City Council.

The event began with a simple aerobic session conducted by Rotaractors from ITE College, Singapore.

The beach clean-up event attracted a number of volunteers from different ages and backgrounds.

The activity saw them handling all sorts of waste matter, including plastic bottles, clothing and even glass bottles, some which even had marine life within them.

Speaking to Apa Khabar TV, Alex Gwee, district environmental chair of Rotary District 3310 said, “We were baffled by what we saw. Hopefully, this (situation) changes with more consistent clean-ups here.”

He said the aim of this event was to get the community we have created through Beach Cleanup to gain some awareness of how polluted our public spaces are.

“It was also to clean up the mess, so hopefully more of our marine life has a chance for a longer life span instead of getting killed by plastics,” he stressed.

The volunteers then went on full swing after the briefing given by the organizers and managed to collect all sorts of rubbish heap during the beach clean-up.

“From this we can see how polluted our beach is and I believe this clean-up will create some kind of awareness,” he remarked.
Alex said it was good to see volunteers combing the Stulang Laut to clean the beach of waste.

He said the beach clean-up was also organized with assistance from the office of City Council of Johor Bahru and Solid Waste Management Environment.

“This is the first time we see many Rotaractors, Interactors and Rotarians come together for this event as a mark of commitment towards preserving the environment,” he said.

He explained that a programme like this is a shared responsibility of many people and is good for preserving our planet’s resources.

He said the impact of such an initiative could be extended far beyond the immediate clean-up efforts.

Awareness built from the event would serve as a catalyst for ongoing environmental advocacy among the community, he said.

Alex emphasized that a polluted sea would disturb the ocean ecosystem and affect an important source of protein for humans.

Meanwhile Steven Wu, president of Rotary Club of Johor Bahru, mentioned that for a long-term solution, we have to educate people to become more civic-conscious.

“Responsible tourism and developing good habits need to become a norm.

“Caring for our environment should be a long-term practice,” he said.

Wu applaud all Malaysians who joined in this programme. “Protecting the planet is a collective action,” he asserted.

He said through this activity the Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors are able to create great bonds and also raise awareness and educate the public on the responsible disposal of plastic and other forms of waste.

“With these initiatives in place and clear targets set for our sustainability programmes, we will continue to spearhead a brighter future for all and bring impactful, positive change for the planet,” added Wu.

Vikrant Sangar, organizing chair for the event said today’s event highlights the need for sustainable policies and practices, influencing governments and institutions to prioritize environmental issues.

He said working together towards supporting on policies aimed at reducing pollutions and protecting coastal areas portrays the solicitude of youths upon our earth.

“The primary cause of dengue is stagnant water, poor waste management and urbanization,” he said, adding that, with a collective effort we can put an end to dengue.